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Stems of amaryllis, a giant among flowers with stems up to 60 centimetres in height and petals up to 10 centimetres wide. (J.P. MOCZULSKI / for the Toronto Star)

Native to Mexico, poinsettia were first used at Christmas in the 16th century. (J.P. Moczulski / for the Toronto star)

Ilex, more traditionally known at Christmas as holly, has a lineage that dates back 50 million years to the Eocene period. (J.P. MOCZULSKI / The Toronto Star)

The Christmas cactus, also called Thanksgiving cactus in the U.S., is known as Weihnachtskaktus in German, Cactus de Noël in French and Cacto de Navidad in Spanish. (J.P. Moczulski / special to the star)

Orchids are considered "cosmopolitan" in that they grow in almost every global habitat -- except glaciers. (J.P. MOCZULSKI / for The Toronto Star)

A party room with lounge and a kitchen will be among the common elements for residents at Minto Yorkville Park.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — thanks to Milena Eglite.

With boxwood wreaths here, evergreens there and eye-catching arrangements everywhere, the Avenue Road florist has been spreading season’s greenings throughout Yorkville’s homes and businesses.

“We do a lot of things for the holidays,” says the owner of Grower’s Flower Market, busily assembling planters for a restaurant as she talks on the phone. “It’s hard work.”

But decorating with fresh flowers and plants is also “a lot of fun,” and a great activity to bring families together, says Eglite, who loves the look and scent of cedar, fir and pine boughs she incorporates into displays.

“They remind me of childhood,” she says. “Good memories and hopes for the new year.”

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This new year will be especially meaningful for Eglite because she’ll be watching her new home take shape just a few blocks away. The retailer bought a condo in Minto Yorkville Park, a gently curved glass tower at the corner of Cumberland and Bellair Streets.

Make that two condos — the thoughtful daughter also bought a unit for her parents, who are in their early 70’s and help run her other flower shop at Bathurst St. and Steeles Ave.

“Yorkville is a great place to retire. I think they’ll have a blast,” she says.

For Eglite, who moved downtown from Richmond Hill a year ago, working and living in the same neighbourhood offers the best of all worlds.

It has also cut her driving time in half, she used to spend five hours a day travelling between home, two stores and Mississauga to pick up fresh flowers.

“I love my Yorkville,” declares the Latvian-born Torontonian. “It always reminds me of Europe with its little shops and cafés. It has a special, cosy feeling for me.”

“I love the location and Minto is known as a great builder,” Eglite says. “As soon as I saw the floor plans, I was sold.”

She bought two corner units, each about 1,000 square feet — one on the sixth floor for her and the other on the 24th floor for her parents.

Alla Eglit and Victor Mylnikov, who’ve lived in the suburbs since emigrating from downtown Riga, the capital of Latvia, said it was a big surprise when their daughter told them they were all moving to Yorkville. They were delighted by the idea of being able to enjoy little cafes, restaurants and shopping nearby.

“Yorkville, by sheer location in the city, is central to everything, whichever way you want to go,” she says. “You can walk to anything you need: world-class shopping, amazing restaurants, the Bay subway station. It has a walk score of 100.”

And if you need to drive away from the urban centre, access to the Don Valley Parkway is close by, Wallace adds.

Surrounded by museums, galleries and high-fashion retail on Bloor St. W., and strategically situated in a sought-after neighbourhood, Minto Yorkville Park will appeal to young professionals — singles and couples — downsizers and investors, says Wallace.

“Milena is a good example of someone who wants that lifestyle and wants to work and live in the centre of the city.”

The builder promises its new addition to the streetscape will be an “iconic sculpture” of glass, limestone and polished black granite “that will resonate with the scale and textures of Yorkville.”

Art deco-inspired, the interiors will be graced with subtle curves, textured stone and layered antique gold. A fitness centre, spin and stretch room, second-floor lounge and rooftop terrace will be among the building’s amenities. Bordering a park, the building will also be home to an “amazing retail podium” at ground level, says Wallace. “It will add some life to that corner.”

In the meantime, Eglite is adding freshness to every Yorkville lobby, storefront and tabletop in need of a festive touch.

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FESTIVE FAVOURITES

Among Milena Eglite’s favourite ornamentals are Christmas wreaths fashioned from boxwood. A versatile decoration, they can be created in round or square shapes, with or without cones, berries, lights and ilex.

“Just hang and that’s it!” she says cheerily.

Eglite offers these fresh floral ideas for holiday decorating:

Amaryllis

Ontario-grown plant comes in a pot or cut flowers

Bold blooms come in red, white, pink and variegated

Weekly watering and medium light

$8 to $10 for potted plant

Poinsettia

Ontario-grown Christmas favourite lasts four to five weeks

Red, white, pink, bi-colour

Weekly watering, any light but keep away from heat source

$4 to $40 for pots from four to 14 inches

Ilex

Also known as holly, grown in Ontario and Holland

Cut stems with little red berries, used in vases or in an arrangement

Needs to be in water to stay fresh

$4 to $8 per branch

Christmas cactus

Ontario-grown tabletop plant or hanging basket

Flowers in vibrant shades of pink, red or purple bloom during the holiday season

Water every two weeks, medium to bright light

$4 to $15 for a four to eight-inch pot

Orchids

Ontario-grown potted plants or cascading flowers for use in arrangements

Various shades including white, pink and lavender

Watering depends on type, location and time of year; medium to bright light

Buying a plant with a few buds will ensure blooms throughout the holidays

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